ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Become a Weed Out the Risk delivery partner in your community to provide harm reduction based, weed education and help reduce driving under the influence and cannabis driving impairment in your community.

National Program Advisory Committee

Our National Program Advisory Committee is comprised of a diverse and talented cross-section of industry leaders who provide strategic and operational advice on program access, impact, and sustainability.

Melissa has an extensive background in public policy and law, with a career that has spanned both the public and private sectors. Prior to joining IBC, she held several senior policy advisory positions with Ontario’s Ministry of the Attorney General, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, and Ministry of Labour. As IBC’s Manager of Policy, Melissa advocates with federal and provincial governments, on behalf of IBC members, for sound public policies related to emerging issues that affect property and casualty insurers. Her focus is on innovation policy, automated vehicles, regulatory modernization and cyber security. She also manages research projects and supports the organization’s regional government relations teams. Melissa has a bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Toronto. She has also earned her bachelor of laws from the University of Windsor and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2005.

Melissa Banfield

Insurance Bureau of Canada

Dr. Hayley Hamilton is a Senior Scientist with the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research at CAMH. She is also an Associate Professor in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and Co-Director of the Collaborative Program in Addiction Studies at the University of Toronto. Dr. Hamilton’s research work includes the public health monitoring of mental health and addictive behaviours, and the influence of individual, social and other factors on aspects of health and behaviour. She has also conducted studies on the mental health needs of diverse populations (including immigrants, youth in the justice system), stigma towards mental illness and addiction, and the influence of early experiences on health outcomes over the long term. She also co-leads the CAMH population surveys of youth (Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey) and adults (CAMH Monitor).

Dr. Hayley Hamilton

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Dr. Roy Purssell is an Emergency Physician at Vancouver General Hospital and a Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Purssell received his MD from the University of British Columbia and completed his Fellowship in Emergency Medicine at McGill University. He completed subspecialty training in toxicology and is a Fellow of the American College of Medical Toxicology. He was Head of the Division of Emergency Medicine in the Department of Surgery from 1994 to 2008. He was President of the Canadian Association of Poison Control Centers from 2003 to 2009. He is an Associate Editor of the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Purssell is a previous chairman of the Emergency Medical Services Committee of Doctors of BC and he was a member of the National Board of MADD Canada from 2009 to 2015. His research interests are in the areas of impaired driving, drug overdose and poisoning.

Dr. Roy Purssell

Emergency Physician

A 24 year member of the OPP, Avery started her career in 1995 at Midland OPP (Southern Georgian Bay) general duties detachment and then spent several years as a Detective Constable in the crime unit. In 2003 Avery joined the Provincial Operations Intelligence Bureau in the Witness Protection Unit. In 2009 Avery switched to the Security Bureau in the Justice Officials Protection and Investigations Section. In 2014 Avery joined Community Safety Services (CSS) and is currently working there as a Sergeant in Community Mobilization – Operations. This role manages community safety programs for the OPP and ensures that the OPP’s Community Safety Officers have the tools they need to deliver the programs into their communities. These programs are the OPP KIDS Program (Knowledge, Issues, Decisions, and Supports) on topics related to Youth & The Law, Peer to Peer Relationships, Online & Social Media Awareness, Drug and Alcohol Awareness (to include cannabis, opioids, methamphetamine and vaping), SafeGuard Ontario (CPTED) – Operation Identification and TRACE Pen, Robbery Prevention Program, Lock it or Lose it, Community Watch Program, Community Bear Program, and the Positive Ticketing Program. Avery liaises with community partners and takes part in several provincial committees such as the Ontario Association of Crimestoppers, CPTED Ontario, Metrolinx/GO rail safety, COYO Committee of Youth Officers and also liaises with community partners both internal and external with regard to Ontario’s Mobilization & Engagement Model and Situation Tables to support Community Safety Planning and well-being across the province.

Avery Bassett

Ontario Provincial Police

Chaouki, along with his parents and six siblings, immigrated to Canada from Lebanon in 1993. Chaouki grew up and resides in Southwestern Ontario in the city of Windsor. Chaouki became a MADD Canada/MADD Windsor & Essex County volunteer at the age of 18 in 2004. Since then, Chaouki has worked tirelessly to spread MADD Canada’s mission and to create a strong MADD Canada presence in his community. Chaouki is a concerned citizen. He works for the Ministry of Community Safety & Correctional Services as a Correctional Officer. Chaouki graduated from the University of Windsor with his undergraduate degree in Psychology. He is also a registered member with the Canadian Police Knowledge Network (CPKN) where he has successfully completed over sixty law enforcement-related courses. Chaouki wants to make a difference in the community he lives and works in. He wants to stop impaired driving and be a positive role model in his community.  Above all, he wants to support the victims of this violent and senseless crime.

Chaouki Hamka

MADD Canada

Dan Hogan is currently the Substance Abuse Violence Prevention Coordinator of the Safe Schools Department of Durham District School Board. This position includes responsibility for promoting and developing strategic partnerships to address and support the well-being of the 70,000 students and 7,000 staff members in the 130 schools of the Durham Board. Other responsibilities include chair of the Durham Youth Drug Awareness Committee and chair of the Racing to a Healthy Life (former Racing against Drugs Durham). Mr. Hogan was the day treatment supervisor of Frontenac Youth Services, Oshawa, for 10 years, operating 10 treatment classrooms for adolescents and five expelled students programs for the Durham District School Board, the Durham Catholic School Board and the Kawartha Pineridge District School Board. In his role as Substance Abuse Violence Prevention Coordinator, Mr. Hogan works in close partnership with the Durham Regional Police Services and the Health Department of the Regional Municipality of Durham, as well as with local treatment and support networks in the Durham Region. He has a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education from the University of Toronto, and is a Restorative Practice Conference Facilitator certified by the International Institute for Restorative Practices.

Dan Hogan

DURHAM DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

Valerie Smith is the Director of Solutions at Parachute. She oversees all of Parachute’s campaigns and programs and helps to support their extensive network of community partners across Canada. She is skilled in managing behaviour change programs, has a strong community engagement background and provides solid leadership to network partners. Valerie holds an MA in international and comparative education and has presented at a number of events and conferences around the world on injury prevention issues. Along with a broad range of other programs, Valerie oversees two of Parachute’s drug-impaired driving campaigns: #KnowWhatImpairedMeans and National Teen Driver Safety Week. #KnowWhatImpairedMeans is a public awareness campaign which aims to educate Canadians, especially those ages 15 to 24, that cannabis impairs a person’s ability to drive safely. The campaign grew out of research from the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, that many teens and young adults didn’t believe consuming cannabis affected your motor skills. Further, National Teen Driver Safety Week runs the third week of October each year, engaging communities to raise awareness about ways young drivers and their passengers can remain safe on our roads. While this week has a different focus each year, in 2018 and again 2019, NTDSW focuses on the critical issue of drug-impaired driving among teens, highlighting cannabis use in particular. The campaign engages hundreds of communities, teens, police and other stakeholders across Canada.

Valerie Smith

PARACHUTE

Chantal Vallerand is currently the Executive Director of Drug Free Kids Canada. DFK Canada is a private sector, non-profit organization that aims to educate, inspire and support parents to prevent substance abuse by youth. Ms. Vallerand has worked in senior management roles in the private, public, and NGO sectors where she developed and implemented organizational strategic plans. In addition to general operations management, Ms. Vallerand has led teams through periods of growth with positive outcomes. She worked with Jack Layton as the National Deputy Director with the New Democratic Party of Canada and oversaw the organization during a phase of transition. Earlier in her career, Ms. Vallerand spent 15 years working for advertising agencies, leading strategic communications for a number of national and local organisations, developing award-winning campaigns. Through the years, Ms. Vallerand developed a strong interest in social issues. Her volunteer work includes work with the International Civil Liberty Monitoring Group, and Dress for Success. Ms. Vallerand, who is fluently bilingual, holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Ottawa and an MBA from Laurentian University.

Chantal Vallerand

DRUG FREE KIDS CANADA

Louis Zuniga is a civilian member for the RCMP in Ottawa where he has managed several national portfolios including Volunteer Services, Victim Services, and most recently Youth Services. These opportunities have taken Louis right across North America to work with organizations like the UN and several other police agencies. Louis has a passion for volunteering and participating in community activities both within Canada and abroad. He is an advocate for victim’s rights and youth engagement. Louis has lent his support and time to many national and international organizations, most recently volunteering in Nicaragua teaching English, as well as being Chair for OVS. Louis has an Honours BA degrees in Criminology.

Louis Zuniga

ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE

Ian Jack directs the national public education and lobbying activities for the Canadian Automobile Association, now in its second century as an advocate for the transportation interests of the public. Founded in 1913, CAA continues to work for road safety, infrastructure that benefits all, and an informed consumer. He is a public affairs strategist with extensive knowledge of advocacy and communications gained through more than 25 years in national journalism and public service roles. Prior to joining CAA, Ian served as Deputy Commissioner of Public Affairs for the Competition Bureau of Canada, Director of Communications for a federal Industry Minister, and as a reporter and editor for the Financial Post and Canadian Press.

Ian Jack

Canadian Automobile Association

Constable John MacLeod is a twenty-year veteran of the Halifax Regional Police. He is currently assigned to the Chiefs Office as the Public Information Officer. Cst. MacLeod was part of the Training Team For over 10 years and was responsible for delivering many programs for the department from vehicle operations, pursuit termination techniques through to combat, Conducted Energy Weapons and firearms training for all members of the department. In his previous role as the Impaired Driving Counter Measures Coordinator he was responsible to facilitate the training and operations for the Evidentiary Breath Technicians and Approved Roadside Screening Device operators. Cst. MacLeod has delivered Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and Drug Evaluation and Classification Training for over 10 years to students across Canada and the United States. He has been cited as a subject matter expert in relation to the Drug Recognition Evaluation Program.  Cst MacLeod currently sits as an advisor for the Road Safety Advisory Council for Nova Scotia. Cst. Macleod liaises with local, provincial and national levels of MADD Canada. He has delivered presentations on road safety to a wide variety of groups throughout the province from Elementary, Jr High and High Schools through to post-secondary and Trade schools. He regularly provides instruction to driver training schools and Driving Instructor Training Programs. Cst. MacLeod has been proudly volunteering with the Halifax Chapter of MADD since 2012. He works with dozens of families from across the province to provide Victim support and to help them navigate the legal system.

John MacLeod

Halifax Police

Andrew Murie has been MADD Canada’s Chief Executive Officer since 1997. His responsibilities include managing the National Office and facilitating MADD Canada’s public policy agenda, national programs and victim services to its 100 volunteer groups across Canada. Andrew has conducted hundreds of presentations on impaired driving to elected members of government, government staff, police enforcement officers, traffic safety organizations and other community-based impaired driving organizations. Andrew’s career spans over 35 years within the not-for-profit sector at local, provincial and national levels. Prior to joining MADD Canada, Andrew worked for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. Andrew has a Master’s Degree in Management from McGill University, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from McMaster University and a Diploma in Recreation Leadership from Mohawk College. Andrew is a member of ICADTS (International Committee on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety) and a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel for the development of DADSS (Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety) technology. He is also a Co-Chair for Canada’s National Alcohol Strategy Advisory Committee. Mohawk College awarded Andrew its Alumni of Distinction Award in 2005, and nominated him for the Premier Award for Community Services in 2013. In 2012, Andrew was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in honour of his long-term service to the charitable sector.

Andrew Murie

MADD Canada

Deborah Riddle has been the Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peel-Halton since January 2007 . Prior to that Ms. Riddle spent 17 years in various positions within the EFry Peel-Halton organization. Ms. Riddle currently is the co-chair of the Women’s Community Strategic Planning Committee a joint planning table for high risk federal women in Ontario and the co-chair for Women in Conflict with the Law – Ontario, the provincial table for women’s correctional services in Ontario. She is also the Vice President of the Canadian Association of Residential Options for Criminalized Women (CAROW) is a not-for-profit society dedicated to the establishment of gender-specific transitional housing in communities across the country for women coming from prison transitioning to the community. Deborah has continued to move the gender envelope forward with her organization commitment to gender responsive programs for both young women and adult women involved in the criminal justice environment and our community

Deborah Riddle

Elizabeth Fry Society

Charles is the Director of Research and Assistant Director of Training at Young Drivers of Canada.  He has over 25 years’ experience in the driver education field including over 20 years work in training driving instructors.  In addition to his extensive work training novice drivers, he has also worked with experienced driving from corporations and governments and has done work as a certified driving rehabilitation specialist.   He has done research into distracted driving and marijuana impaired driving amongst other areas. He is currently an affiliate member of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

Charles Shrybman

Young Drivers of Canada

Marg Stanowski has been the Executive Director of Springboard since 1992 and has led the organization through significant growth and expansion in a rapidly changing environment. Prior to joining Springboard, Marg was a Professor of Law and Security at St. Clair College, the Executive Director of Volunteer Ontario and was one of Canada’s earlier female parole officers. Marg is a passionate and award winning community volunteer. She currently serves on several Boards of Directors, including the national board for MADD Canada, the Ontario Nonprofit Network, ProAction Cops and Kids, the Rotary Club of Toronto and the Rotary Club of Toronto’s Foundation Board. Marg was a special award winner at the 2007 Mayor Safety Awards in the City of Toronto and is a Paul Harris Fellow and a recipient of the William A. Peace Award from Rotary International. Marg holds a Bachelor of Social Work and has completed an array of courses and certificates over the years, including the Executive Leadership Program at Queen’s University.

Marg Stanowski

Springboard

Anne Elizabeth Lapointe has been the Executive Director of the Addiction Prevention Centre and la Maison Jean Lapointe — Prévention since 2016. A visionary and strategic leader, she has 20 years’ experience in the field of substance use and addictions, including 15 years in prevention. Ms Lapointe proficiencies include behavioural addictions, such as problem gambling, as well as the prevention and treatment of all addictions. She has contributed to developing and evaluating the prevention programs of la Maison Jean Lapointe and the Addiction Prevention Centre. These programs reach more than 100,000 young people yearly. Ms. Lapointe is actively involved in the community and sits on several round tables and expert committees. She has given countless conference presentations in her field of expertise, is a frequent guest on television and radio shows, and continues to share her knowledge within the community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Communications and Media Studies) and a diploma in management from the University of Montreal, and a graduate degree in addiction and ethics from the University of Sherbrooke. She is bilingual.

Anne Elizabeth Lapointe

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ADDICTION PREVENTION CENTRE